Hundreds remember Jack Brooks Sunday

Family and friends of former Congressman Jack Brooks remembered the life of the former politician Sunday.

Services for Brooks were held at the Montagne Center in Beaumont.

Lamar University President Dr. Jimmy Simmons welcomed the audience. Father Sinclair Oubre said the opening prayer on a stage where a cowboy hat laid between two pictures of Congressman Brooks.

Brooks was known as a story teller, so State Representative Joe Deshotel told the crowd stories about Brooks, including one of where Brooks was pulled over and given a ticket by a police officer. Rep. Deshotel also said that Brooks would be called a S.O.B. by Republicans; but, he says Brooks always took it as a compliment saying it meant "Sweet Ol' Brooks." The crowd laughed at the stories.

Carl Parker and Nick Lampson also spoke before the crowd.

Brooks entered politics while attending University of Texas Law School. There, he helped with legislation turning Lamar University into a 4-year college from a 2-year college.

On July 24, 1978, President Jimmy Carter came to Beaumont to dedicate the Jack Brooks Federal Building in downtown Beaumont.

Congressman Brooks is survived by his wife of 52 years, Charlotte Brooks, sister Marie Manry, daughter and son-in-law, Kate and Rod Carroll, their children Matthew and Brooke, daughter Kim Brooks, sin and daughter-in-law Jeb and Janice Brooks, as well as numerous nieces and nephews.